Oblivious to the magnitude of his costly mistake, Whitman was unprepared to be _______ at so public a forum as the annual shareholder’s meeting.A. censuredB. excoriatedC. instigatedD. laudedE. repatriatedF. extolled

Having committed an expensive error, Whitman might reasonably expect to be criticized or blamed. Both lauded and extolled are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (D) and (F).

Neither instigated, which means incited, nor repatriated, which means returned to one’s land of citizenship, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate choices (C) and (E). Both censured and excoriated can mean criticized, so choices (A) and (B) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
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